Phnom Penh: Mr. Thong Khon, President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), has underscored the critical role of sound sports administration. He stated that robust sports governance forms the fundamental basis for transparent and integrity-driven leadership and management of sports organizations, essential for achieving good governance and elevating Cambodia’s competitive standing both regionally and on the global stage.
This significant statement from the NOCC President was delivered during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Solidarity course on Sports Administration. The program, specifically designed for Secretaries General and technical officers, concluded on the evening of September 18th at the NOCC headquarters. The comprehensive four-day course, held from September 15th to 18th, successfully gathered 56 technical officials from over 50 sports federations across the nation. The initiative received vital sponsorship and support from the Olympic Solidarity organization.
Experienced senior officials from the NOCC, boasting years of expertise and knowledge in the field of sports, served as instructors for the course. Among them, Mr. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the NOCC, shared invaluable insights. His sessions covered a range of topics, including the benefits of physical education and sports, the societal impact of major sports events, the structure of the national sports sector, effective planning of sports training programs, and the principles of leadership in sports.
During his address at the closing ceremony, Mr. Thong Khon highlighted that the participants had gained a profound understanding of the Olympic movement’s good governance principles. These principles are pivotal, requiring steadfast adherence from all members of the Olympic movement, including national sports federations, to ensure compliance with the Olympic Charter. He further noted that participants had acquired clear and enhanced knowledge of both national and international sports administration standards and norms.
The NOCC President remarked that the Sports Administration course had equipped participants with fresh wisdom and knowledge across sports administration, technical sports, sports science, and sports theory. This newfound expertise is intended to empower them to serve their respective national sports federations more effectively. Mr. Thong Khon reiterated that exemplary sports administration would invariably foster greater national sports development and elevate competitiveness at regional and international levels in the future.
Elaborating on this vision, Mr. Thong Khon added, “Sports administration is of fundamental importance in leading and managing sports organizations with transparency, integrity, good governance, and strong leadership. This ensures the effectiveness of sports initiatives, propelling the development of specialized sports to achieve competitive parity at regional, continental, and global levels in the years to come.”
Looking ahead, the NOCC is also planning to launch an Advanced Sports Management Course (Level 2) in the near future. This higher-level program will be tailored for senior sports officials and leaders, and participants from the recent course are encouraged to prepare for their involvement. It is noteworthy that this particular four-day course marked the 83rd such program organized nationwide, with Phnom Penh having hosted 22 sessions. The 56 participants included one NOCC volunteer official, 51 individuals from 47 sports federations, two from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports, and two from a virtue-based school. Upon completion, 40 participants, constituting 70 percent, achieved an ‘Excellent’ grade, while 7 (13 percent) received a ‘Good’ grade, and 9 (16 percent) were graded as ‘Average’.
